Top 10 sport press-conference meltdowns

Chelsea interim manager Rafael Benitez suffered a meltdown in Middlesbrough last night when he launched into a verbal attack on the club’s supporters who have criticised his leadership.

The former Liverpool boss has been unpopular with the Stamford Bridge faithful since the day he was appointed to replace Roberto Di Matteo.

Speaking after his team’s FA Cup win at the Riverside Stadium, a clearly frustrated Benitez was vociferous on a number of issues regarding his spell at the club and said he would leave at the end of the season. He also attacked the board when he insisted ‘someone made a mistake’ by adding the ‘interim’ tag to his job title.

Here are ten other jaw-dropping rants from managers and sports stars.

JOE KINNEAR – OCTOBER 2008
Just four days after being appointed as Newcastle’s interim manager, former Wimbledon boss Kinnear hit the headlines after a press conference in which he swore 52 times while criticising the media for saying he failed to turn up for training on his first day in charge. Kinnear said to one journalist: ‘You are out of order. Absolutely f****** out of order. If you do it again, I am telling you you can f*** off and go to another ground.’

KEVIN KEEGAN – MAY 1996
Newcastle manager Keegan reacted angrily to Sir Alex Ferguson’s mind games in the closing stages of the season. With United requiring only a draw in their final game to clinch the title, Keegan famously raged: ‘We have not resorted to that. I’ll tell you now because he’ll be watching this – we’re still fighting for this title and he’s still got to go to Middlesbrough and get something. I’d love it if we beat them. Love it.’

CRAIG LEVEIN – MAY 2008
Dundee United boss Levein launched a stinging attack on referee Mike McCurry for his performance during his side’s 3-1 loss at Rangers. ‘Mike McCurry could have phoned me at home this morning and said, ”Look, Rangers are going to get the three points, just stay in the house”. It is impossible. Just try to imagine if these decisions had been the other way about – Mike McCurry would never referee another game again.’

RON ATKINSON – MARCH 1996
Then Coventry manager Atkinson reacted furiously to claims by Sky interviewers Andy Gray and Richard Keys that he could not save the club from relegation. The former Manchester United boss cut off the interview and threw his headphones at a Sky producer after saying: ‘You can sit there and play with all your silly machines. If the boys play badly I’ll whip ‘em, but I ain’t whipping them for that. Thanks lads, goodnight.’

SIR ALEX FERGUSON – DECEMBER 2008
Real Madrid director Pedro Trapote claimed the Spanish giants had an agreement in place to sign United star Cristiano Ronaldo the following summer, much to the anger of the United boss. ‘Do you think I would enter into a contract with that mob?’ he said. ‘No chance. I would not sell them a virus. That is a “no” by the way. There is no agreement whatsoever between the clubs.’ Ronaldo, of course, did later move to the Bernabeu.

RAFAEL BENITEZ – JANUARY 2009
It’s Rafa again! The then Liverpool manager launched an astonishing attack on his Manchester United counterpart Sir Alex Ferguson, with the Spaniard claiming the Scot was ‘the only manager who will not be punished’ for outspoken attacks on referees. Benitez said: ‘We had a meeting in Manchester with managers and the Football Association about the respect campaign. And I was very clear, forget the campaign because Mr Ferguson was killing the referees, killing Mr [Martin] Atkinson, killing Mr [Keith] Hackett.’ He added: ‘We need to know that I am taking about facts, not my impression. There are things that everyone can see every single week.’

ARSENE WENGER – FEBRUARY 2013
The Arsenal manager turned on his critics in the media ahead of the Champions League last-16 clash with Bayern Munich and in the wake of an FA Cup defeat by Blackburn. After a report that he was in talks over a new contract, Wenger said: ‘That is the wrong information and I work for 16 years in England and I think I deserve a bit more credit than wrong information that has only one intention: to harm. Why does it [contract story] just come out when we lose a big game? You think I am so naive that I don’t see what is behind that? You think I am a complete idiot? The lie is targeted to hurt.’

MIKE TYSON – JUNE 2002
Iron Mike was in full flow as he hyped himself up to challenge Lennox Lewis for the WBC heavyweight title, threatening to eat the British boxer’s children. The small matter that Lewis was, at the time, single with no kids did not deter the Brooklyn brawler as he raged: ‘I was gonna rip his heart out. I’m the best ever. I’m the most brutal and vicious, the most ruthless champion there has ever been. No one can stop me. Lennox is a conquerer? No! He’s no Alexander! I’m Alexander! I’m the best ever. I’m Sonny Liston, I’m Jack Dempsey. There’s never been anyone like me. I’m from their cloth. There is no one who can match me. My style is impetuous, my defence is impregnable, and I’m just ferocious. I want his heart! I want to eat his children! Praise be to Allah.’

CHICAGO CUBS COACH LEE ELIA – APRIL 1983
During a poor start to the season the Cubs were booed by their own fans after another home defeat and infuriated coach Elia launched into an astonishing foul-mouthed tirade, accusing the home fans of being all-round miscreants, who only attended games because they are too lazy to be employed. Every other word was an expletive during his three-minute rant. Needless to say, he isn’t fondly remembered by certain sections in the Windy City.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL COACH JOHN CHANEY – FEBRUARY 1994
There was no love lost between Temple coach John Chaney and John Calipari, his opposite number at the University of Massachusetts, after a Valentine’s Day college basketball game. Chaney burst into a press conference staged by the triumphant Calipari and accused his rival of trying to influence officials before uttering a string of four-letter words and charging at his rival. A punch-up was only averted by alert onlookers who managed to restrain Chaney.